Syrian rebels clash internally over weapons

On December 7, fighters from the Islamic Front, the largest Islamist rebel force in Syria, took control of weapons depots of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The situation shows escalating conflict between rebel groups in this Middle Eastern country.

Islamist rebels refuse to accept FSA command in Syria. Photo: huffingtonpost.com

"After a battle that lasted all night, fighters from the Islamic Front overran the positions of the (FSA) headquarters near the Bab el-Hawa border crossing (with Türkiye) and seized their weapons depots," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. The SOHR said the weapons in the depot were transported from Türkiye across the border and five fighters were killed, but did not specify which side they belonged to.

The occupation came four days after the Islamic Front said it would no longer accept the command of the FSA, the first organized rebel group to emerge after protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 turned into an armed uprising.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Front was formed about a month before six anti-Assad groups united and pledged to work together toward establishing an Islamic state.

According to Vietnam+